Brad Keselowski will leave RFK Racing at the end of the 2026 Cup season, the team confirms. The co-owner-driver intends to keep racing and does not plan to retire.

Both parties begin talks to resolve his ownership stake. RFK frames the separation as strategic, seeking operational continuity and minimal disruption across competition, commercial, and technical programs.

Keselowski joined RFK in 2022 after a long Team Penske stint, partnering Jack Roush and John Henry. He also serves as the team’s head of competition.

RFK intends to remain a three-car program. The No. 6 car’s future, Keselowski’s seat, and wider driver-market options stay open while 2027 planning accelerates.

Charter status adds complexity. RFK loses the No. 60 charter fielded for Ryan Preece, yet pursues another to protect a three-car footprint and maintain development capacity.

President Chip Bowers credits Keselowski’s energy, leadership, and process focus. He highlights off-track gains in technical culture and operations, while committing to maximize performance through season’s end.

On-track, Keselowski’s record remains elite. He reaches 642 Cup starts by season close, with 36 victories including the Brickyard 400, Southern 500, and Coca-Cola 600.

Across NASCAR’s three national divisions he has 76 wins. He also holds the 2010 NASCAR O’Reilly Series title, underscoring experience valuable to any program.

Strategically, RFK must replace Keselowski’s competition lead, redefine technical governance, and secure direction for the No. 6. Those calls shape resources, development roadmaps, and playoff ambitions.

The timing intersects with evolving playoff dynamics, particularly after recent shifts at Kansas, and a broader dominance narrative there, influencing seeding and priorities during the leadership handover.

Externally, the driver market tightens. Keselowski’s availability prompts rivals to reassess veteran options, while RFK weighs continuity versus reset across crew chief pairings, engineering groups, and aero development.

Future announcements will follow in due course. For now, both sides target stability, results, and a clean ownership transition to minimize competitive drag into 2027.

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John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.